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Frank John Selas III, a former children's television show host who was wanted on charges in Rapides Parish for almost 40 years, refused to waive extradition in a hearing Wednesday in San Diego County.

An identity hearing was scheduled for Feb. 11, and Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley said he'd be applying on Thursday for an extradition warrant to bring Selas back from California.

Selas — known as Mr. Wonder in the late 1970s at KNOE-TV in Monroe — also was denied bail, said Mosley, who is handling the case. Selas legally changed his last name in 1992 to Szeles as he remained a fugitive on two obscene behavior with a juvenile warrants that had been issued for him in 1979.

Selas was accused of sexually abusing at least seven young victims while on a camping trip to Valentine Lake. The victims told their parents after the trip, and an investigation was started through the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff William Earl Hilton, then a detective handling the case with his partner, said Selas escaped Monroe as they were trying to arrest him. Selas flew to Rio de Janeiro, leaving his car in the Dallas area.

But he was finally found on Monday in Bonita, California. Selas had been living there with his wife, whom Hilton had talked to in 1979 when searching for Selas. During the Tuesday press conference announcing Selas' arrest, Hilton said it's not yet known whether Selas' wife, Maria Magdalena Aranda Selas Szeles, could face any charges.

CLOSE

Law enforcement officials from Rapides and Ouachita parishes, as well as the federal government, announced the arrest of Frank John Selas III. Selas has been wanted by the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office for 37 years, and was found on Monday.

Rapides Detective Stephen Phillips, who is investigating the case, said it's possible that Selas could face additional charges when he does return to Rapides Parish. The 1979 warrants involved only two victims, and Phillips said "multiple" sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile charges could be possible from those victims and others already known to law enforcement.

Officials still are urging anyone who may have had contact with Selas to call either the Rapides or Ouachita sheriffs' offices. People can call Phillips at 318-473-6727 or the Rapides sheriff office's main number at 318-473-6700. People also can call CrimeStoppers at 318-443-7867.